For years, tennis fans have eagerly awaited the emergence of a Swiss player capable of rekindling the magic of Roger Federer. The graceful one-handed backhand, the effortless movement, and the instinctive attacking style that defined Federer’s game have become the blueprint for tennis artistry. Is it possible to emulate it to perfection? Well, not really. But a young talent has surfaced from Switzerland again, drawing inevitable comparisons to the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
Henry Bernet had an 18th birthday for the ages, capping it off by seizing the 2025 Australian Open Junior Championships title. It was a well-earned victory, witnessed by a near-2,000 strong crowd, as he defeated Benjamin Willwerth. The buzz around Bernet has been growing, with comparisons to Roger Federer intensifying throughout the week, fueled by his elegant one-handed backhand and their shared hometown of Basel. “He is playing like Federer now,” said a gracious Willwerth afterwards.
On Sundary, Patrick Mouratoglou, known for shaping champions like Williams and Naomi Osaka, acknowledged why Bernet is being likened to Federer but warned of the dangers of premature comparisons. “I understand why this player is compared to Roger(Federer) even though it’s a burden and it’s going to be hard for him for three reasons.” Mouratoglou said.
“First, he’s Swiss like Roger.”
“Second, he has a one-handed backhand like Roger.”
“And third, he’s winning Grand Slams—he won a Grand Slam in juniors.”
However, Mouratoglou quickly tempered expectations, marking that junior success does not always translate to professional dominance. “So, I understand the comparison. Is he the same type of player? I don’t know him well enough to say that,” he admitted. “But when I watched the video, he’s sneaking in, coming to the net. He feels the ball. Don’t put too much pressure on him.”
Drawing from experiences, Serena’s ex-coach referenced another player who faced similar expectations early in his career—Grigor Dimitrov. Once heralded as “Baby Fed,” Dimitrov struggled under the weight of those comparisons, finding his own path much later in his career. “There’s another player I know very well, Grigor Dimitrov, who was compared to Roger at 16 or 17 years old,” Mouratoglou said.
“Nothing feels better than being compared to Federer, but it brings a lot of pressure. It’s very difficult for these young players to handle that pressure, knowing they haven’t done anything yet. Winning a title in juniors is great, but it’s juniors. Their entire career is still ahead of them.”
Mouratoglou’s perspective serves as both a reality check and an encouragement for Bernet. He continued, “They (young players) come to that career with a huge expectation because of the comparison, so it gives confidence, but takes confidence at the same time. So don’t do that too much if you want this young, very good player to become a TOP one.”
While Bernet’s talent is undeniable, his journey is just beginning, and the weight of expectations could either fuel his rise or hinder his progress. Beyond Bernet, Mouratoglou also recently shared his admiration for another young star who has already proven his mettle on the biggest stage—Carlos Alcaraz.
Speaking on the UTS Tour, he explained why Alcaraz is uniquely equipped for the modern era of tennis. ”If you look at Alcaraz for example, he’s more a puncher,” Mouratoglou said. “But it’s very interesting too because yes, he can do so many different things and he does everything so well. He drop shots, he comes to the net, unbelievable power, unbelievable touch. He can return volley and he does all this in a match. That’s crazy.”
However, he did highlight that the Spaniard is less consistent. Mouratoglou added, “Of course he’s not as consistent as Rafa or Novak at their peak or Sinner now, who’s incredibly consistent. But he’s more fiery.”
Young Swiss tennis star Henry Bernet keeps getting compared to Roger Federer. Even from coach, Severin Luthi. Luthi wants people to see him for who he really is. At just 17, Bernet has already caught the attention of the tennis world, with many calling him Federer’s successor. But according to Luthi, Bernet isn’t here to follow in Federer’s footsteps—he’s here to make his own.
With his Swiss roots and stylish one-handed backhand, it’s easy to see why people are drawing parallels. But Luthi believes that Bernet’s journey should be about developing his own game, not living under Federer’s shadow.
Meanwhile, Bernet handles Federer comparisons with composure.
Bernet taking Roger Federer comparisons in his stride
The parallels between Bernet and Federer are striking. They share the same tennis club in Basel, were both talented footballers, boast elegant one-handed backhands, have been coached by Severin Luthi, and now, both hold junior Grand Slam titles. “I’m just trying to develop myself, make my own journey,” said the young Swiss, who was presented with a birthday cake at his post-match press conference.
“But obviously there’s always going to be some comparisons. That’s not a problem for me. It’s a motivation, too. Maybe I just try to focus on my own journey.”
Bernet revealed he’s only met Federer once, at the US Open last September. While in Melbourne, he hasn’t had any communication with him, but he was asked if he anticipated a call. “I really don’t know,” he said. “I would love to talk to him again. I mean, he’s anyway busy. I would love to have a chat with him (but) I’m not expecting one now.”
While Mouratoglou and Luthi’s insights guide the young prodigy—Bernet is at the very start of his journey. The road to greatness is never linear, and whether Bernet follows in Federer’s footsteps or carves his own unique path, one thing is certain: the tennis world will be watching.
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